It was the end of the English summer, but just the start of the debut season for Thrum Hall FC, a local team situated in the heart of Yorkshires Grass Roots Football. The Mighty Snakes began their campaign with a charity game facing Halifax Rangers. Another Local team who have toughed it out in the Halifax Sunday league for years gone by. The prematch warm up was somewhat held up when water boy Joebona Hoyle seemingly brought empty water bottles up to the pitch, a school boy error and sheer candidate for the infamous title Dick Of The Day.
Marcus, rallied the team together, spirits were high, the team felt as one, an exceptional team talk was delivered spurring much needed confidence into the thrum hall players, a makeshift defence was to be tested, with Marcus's number 2 Ben 'baldy' Coates filling in at CB for the injured Snakes Captain 'Big Phil' Ogden, and a new look right back in Dale drafted in from Hibernian FC, Said to be the only living family member of William Wallace himself.
As the teams took to their sides and prepared for kick off, Thrum halls towering striker Keir Watkinson set up position in the centre circle, dropping to his knees, looking to the gods for some luck in front of goal.
Now was the moment we had all been waiting for, Rangers Kicked off, baring down on them were the pacey front three of Keir, David and Casey. Rangers enjoyed more possession in the opening minutes, but with very little goal threat. The first chance for the Snakes came with a beautiful ball out to the right side, with some work still to do the Left winger Jamie Casey easily skipped past the right back and surged towards the goal, his over hit pass was met by Striker Keir Watkinson who from a tight angle narrowly missed the bottom right post. Onlookers were dismayed. A stench of jager did seem to follow the young striker around the pitch and could potentially be the cause of the misdirected effort. It wasn't all woes for thrum hall, as they had now turned around the possession stats, the rangers players grew frustrated and this frustration over spilled when the Rangers number 11 started a fight with the smallest player on the pitch - David Sudall, who showed much courage and didn't back down, but soon after the referee managed to take back control of the game. Soon after David had the last laugh, advancing into the opponents half he let fire a low powerful shot from outside the box, straight into the bottom right corner of the rangers net!
1-0 Thrum Hall!
The Snakes were on the attack again soon after, but the tireless efforts of Keir Watkinson were Thwarted when the referee wrongfully listened to the offside calls of the rangers defence. Pressure still building a corner was conceded by rangers. Thinking instinctively Keir shouted to the corner taker Jamie Casey to deliver quickly low and hard into the box, with a sublime dummy the ball sailed through and was met by none other than Thrum Halls Man of the moment!! Centre Back Karl "Cannon" Kartlidge, who bundled the ball into the back of the net off his stomache!
2-0 Thrum Hall!
Thrum Hall really with a foothold in the game now, using the pitch to their full advantage, playing long balls to the higher left hand side of the pitch, found Jamie Casey in plenty of space as he managed to cut inside and score an accurate side footed finish into the back of the net!
3-0 Thrum Hall!
Thrum Halls now dominance was aided by the constant tireless efforts of Keir Watkinson chasing lost causes up the top of the pitch and Chris Dawson hounding the rangers midfield, With now midfielder Andy "Hembers" Hemblys Winning every ball in the air! The distribution of Ashley Shepard was noted and his clear resemblance of the now disgraced joey Barton shone through in weight of balls being played left and right by him.
Thrum Halls defence in the past have often been left embarrassed with their lacklustre defending and dawdling on the ball, but not today folks, they kept to the tactic of no nonsense defending and ensured that rangers attackers were never any danger to thrum Halls bored Keeper Danny Hoyle.
The half time whistle blew and no changes were made by Marcus, who could see the confidence growing the Snakes performance, cries were echoed to take the shoreline as 0-0 and give just as much into the second half as the lads gave the first!
And that's what they did, Thrum Halls new right back was given space to run at the rangers back line, delivering a delightful peach of a cross, skipping out Keir watkinson to find David Suddall at the back post with a confident finish into the middle of the net!
4-0 Thrum Hall!
With the subs eager to be involved Marcus made his first substitution of the game, Off Came Striker Keir Watkinson who was devastated to leave the field without a goal, but hoped his relentless running and working for the team, will allow him to maintain his place in the starting line up. On Came Jason Clissit! A midfielder come striker, perfectly suited to the space opening up in the game.
The rangers number 11 was at it again, openly showing his frustrations, having scuffles all over the park with Snakes players, he stupidly told Thrum Halls Left Back Jonni Sudall that he was rubbish, the Chavvy number 11 was made to eat his words, as Jonni surged forward with the ball, beating 3/4/5 rangers players, running rings around them and scoring a beautiful goal, what a great solo effort.
5-0 Thrum Hall!
Substitute Callum Bruce enjoyed great link up play with David Suddall, notably a partnership in the making.
The last substitute Luke Hand maintained the solid back line, injecting pace and ferociousness down the right side.
Rangers only real threat, came from a mistaken back pass from Chris Dawson, which Danny Hoyle picked up innocently. A wrongful call from the Referee gave rangers an indirect free kick in Thrum Halls penalty area. With every man behind the ball Thrum Hall created a solid impenetrable wall in front of goal, giving rangers no chance of finding the back of the net!
The final Goal of the game was scored by on form Jamie Casey with a cool finish, rounding the keeper
6-0 Thrum Hall
Thrum Hall got a much needed win going into the new Season. Confidence is High! Lads are Raring to go! Welcome to the Snakepit ??
